AMERICAN NOTES: Ticket to the Coronation

Since the U.S. has no official
royalty, its leaders try to compensate by crowning their Presidents
amid as much hoopla as they can devise. James and Dolley Madison set
the tone back in 1809 with the first official inaugural ball in
Washingtonat $4 per couple.

Since then, American inaugurations have become progressively
extravagant.

Because the ceremonies must pay for themselvesthis year's total bill
will be around $4,000,000they have also grown plutocratically
expensive. Tickets for the Nixon ball on Jan. 20 are $40 a throw, with
boxes for eight going for $1,000.